MariDeal!
Why not?

It all started with the famous “why not” question. Why not set up an innovative business model? 10 years down the line, the online hotel and leisure booking platform MariDeal is a household name. At BIZWEEK, we wanted to put a face on MariDeal, so we talked to Alex Samuelson, the founder and CEO, who shares his e-commerce journey, the challenges faced, and the ones ahead.

MariDeal is celebrating its 10^th anniversary. Tell us how it all started.

MariDeal‘s journey began with a vision I’ve held very close to my heart for years – the dream of creating an e-commerce platform. And it all started during my time studying for my MBA in Madrid. There, I developed a business plan similar to MariDeal, but tailored for the Spanish market.

When my wife and I moved to Mauritius, I saw the perfect opportunity to turn this dream into reality in a place I deeply admired. We started with one major goal, which was to provide accessible e-commerce solutions for seamless transactions anytime, anywhere.

And sure enough, it was challenging for a foreigner to put in place the concept of an e-commerce platform in Mauritius, but I was committed to this vision. My determination was driven by this strong desire to give back to the community that had embraced us so warmly. 

What was the inspiration behind the name? 

Well, finding the perfect name was quite a rollercoaster ride actually. We wanted something that screamed “Mauritius” and resonated with everyone here. So, we started off with ZoliDeal, thinking it was catchy and relatable. But guess what? Days before our big launch, we found out that the domain was already taken up. 

Needless to say, we were all in panic mode! We did our best to find the domain owner, but to no avail. Things took an unexpected twist after a meeting with one of our local merchants. We were just lamenting our situation when he casually threw out, “Why not MariDeal?” Now, “mari” is a very commonly used word here. You can hear the word “mari” in every other sentence.

So of course, we jumped on the idea. Within 48 hours, we renamed to MariDeal, and here we are now! Fast forward 10 years, and we are catching people casually dropping “Mari Deal” in conversations! It’s a humble badge we wear with pride!

How has MariDeal progressed over the past 10 years?

Throughout the past decade, MariDeal has remained fully committed to our mission to empower local businesses and entrepreneurs while embracing technology and initiating the digital revolution in Mauritius. 

We had a vision and we saw an opportunity in 2013 to connect consumers with local businesses, which we think brought an enormous social impact on the lifestyle of the people and communities within Mauritius.  

I would say MariDeal has been at the forefront of ushering in the digital age in Mauritius. Our business plan has played a pivotal role in introducing the concept of e-commerce and even domestic leisure to the island.

We encountered a lot of scepticism regarding the concept of domestic tourism in the beginning. However, through perseverance and a lot of negotiations, we not only overcame these challenges, but also acted as trailblazers in the sector.

Our journey has been about more than just transactions; it’s been about cultivating meaningful connections with our customers and partners, and creating a social impact within Mauritian communities. 

By providing visibility to establishments of all sizes, from small-scale operators to industry leaders, MariDeal has facilitated increased foot traffic, sales, and job opportunities.

10 years later, we are still committed to this goal of providing local businesses with a digital footprint and educating the population on the convenience of booking easily through their phone or PC.

To do so, we’ve continually adapted to meet the evolving needs of our partners and customers.

And today, MariDeal’s evolution into a marketplace reflects our ongoing efforts to scale this concept and further contribute to the growth of the island and its economy.

The COVID pandemic has been a major issue for the tourism sector. How did MariDeal bounce back?

The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for the tourism sector, pushing MariDeal to adapt and innovate in order to bounce back. 

While many businesses stopped working and investing because they weren’t sure what would happen, MariDeal chose to keep going and push for more growth. At MariDeal, we have this culture of asking really difficult questions, and we believe that until and unless we ask those hard questions, we won’t uncover the solutions. 

The tough question during COVID was, “How do we double the value of our company without making any sales?” The answer became clear: Data. We recognised the immense potential in harnessing and empowering our systems to think and learn. 

So we put our focus on leveraging data. We invested in hiring new talents, including a CTO and data scientist, and developed an extranet to provide our partners with access to their data for informed decision-making and benchmarking.

By the time the second outbreak occurred, we had already implemented these initiatives, positioning ourselves for success in the post-pandemic landscape. As restrictions eased, domestic tourism surged again, and MariDeal emerged as the leading booking engine. These months marked our best performances to date, with increased sales, more customer satisfaction, and growth.

Moreover, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of e-commerce, further benefiting our platform. As more individuals embraced the convenience of online booking, MariDeal continued to thrive, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.

How is MariDeal coping with competition?

At MariDeal, we embrace competition as a driving force for innovation. It’s evidence of our success. When other companies follow in our footsteps, we see this as validation of our pioneering efforts in the industry. Competition motivates us to continually improve and innovate, ultimately benefiting our customers and the industry as a whole.

The tough question during COVID was, “How do we double the value of our company without making any sales?” The answer became clear: Data.

How do you assess the tourism promotion strategy of Mauritius, and what could we improve? 

Being part of the tourism industry for more than ten years, we’ve closely observed the commendable initiatives of the Tourism Authority, particularly their focus on sustainable tourism. It’s our responsibility to fully support their efforts. As leaders in e-commerce, we understand how important it is to use digital tools to contribute in advancing sustainable tourism practices.

We believe we must align our efforts with the Tourism Authority’s vision and contribute to making Mauritius a digitally-empowered nation while prioritizing sustainable tourism at the same time. 

Embracing the digital revolution isn’t just an option anymore; it’s a must, and we’re glad to see more people and businesses getting on board. By teaming up with the Tourism Authority and using our tech skills, we’re sure we can make a difference and help create a sustainable future for Mauritius.

Climate change and the rise of sea level will directly impact the tourism industry. What are your thoughts on this?

Addressing climate change requires a collective effort across all industries. At MariDeal, we demonstrate this through our strong dedication to sustainability. As an online marketplace, we naturally operate with a low carbon footprint compared to physical stores. Using digital tools, we efficiently serve thousands of customers daily, while minimizing our environmental impact.

We believe that every industry has a role to play in addressing climate change. Our focus on digital solutions sets an example for cutting emissions and promoting sustainability. We encourage others to join us in prioritizing environmental responsibility, as every effort counts in lessening the impact of climate change and protecting our planet for generations to come.

Where do you project MariDeal to be in 10 years? 

The question at hand is indeed challenging, as there are numerous variables to consider. Perhaps a more relevant question today is how the internet landscape will evolve over the next decade. How will online booking evolve in the coming years? Considering the potential evolution of technology, will online booking be the same or will emerging technologies reshape the industry?

Looking ahead, it’s likely that platforms such as Expedia and Booking.com will undergo significant transformations in the next 10 years. Our job is to anticipate these shifts and adapt accordingly. Currently, it’s evident that machine learning is shaping the forefront of technological advancements. Therefore, it’s imperative for us to ensure that our systems continually remain adaptive and responsive. Failure to do so could make us obsolete within a few years.

So, our focus is on building flexible systems that can accommodate any changes that the future may bring. Whether it’s a shift in technology or a change in consumer behaviour, we aim to be prepared to adapt swiftly. Being flexible will allow us to seize opportunities for growth, whether they’re vertical or horizontal expansions. Ultimately, our goal is to stay ahead of the curve and continue providing innovative solutions in the landscape of online booking. 

Do you have a message for your clients?

Looking back on the past decade, it’s truly humbling to see how the people of Mauritius have embraced MariDeal and placed their trust in us. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve this community.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges for everyone, and MariDeal was no exception. We witnessed the resilience of our fellow businesses, and the support of our customers through uncertain times. We are heartened by all the support we’ve received. 

I’m excited to announce that significant improvements are underway in our systems and infrastructure. By the end of April, you’ll notice a transformative change on our website. We are working seamlessly on addressing long-standing issues related to our website, or even room availability. We take customer satisfaction very seriously. This includes educating and empowering our staff to provide the best possible experience for our customers.

Our priority is to give our customers what they want, when they want it. And we remain committed to upholding the standards of customer service.

To all those who have supported us along this journey, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Your continued trust and encouragement inspire us to keep pushing forward, making strides to enhance everyone’s experience with MariDeal.